History of your Surname
Get access to Gernard family records.Start a free trial

Gernard Family History

Gernard Name Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Bernard, Gerard, Gernand, Gerrard, Gerhard, Leonard, Reynard

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Gernard family from?

You can see how Gernard families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gernard family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gernard families were found in Canada in 1911. In 1840 there was 1 Gernard family living in Massachusetts. This was 100% of all the recorded Gernard's in USA. Massachusetts had the highest population of Gernard families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gernard surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Gernard ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Operator and Bookkeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Gernard. 50% of Gernard men worked as an Operator and 34% of Gernard women worked as a Bookkeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gernard were Farmer and Saleslady. .

View Census Data for Gernard | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Operator
    50%
  • Farmer
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Bookkeeper
    34%
  • Housekeeper
    34%
  • Saleslady
    34%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Gernard family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 552 census records available for the last name Gernard. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gernard census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Gernard

Passenger Lists

There are 203 immigration records available for the last name Gernard. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Gernard immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 90 military records available for the last name Gernard. For the veterans among your Gernard ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gernard military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gernard family history

Discover More

What is the average Gernard lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2000, in the United States, Gernard life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1980. The average life expectancy for Gernard in 1944 was 26, and 73 in 2000.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gernard

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gernard family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Gernard last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial